The Vail Jazz Workshop was created in 1996 to assist in the development of exceptionally gifted musicians. So far 238 young musicians have moved through one of the finest music incubators in the world. Alto saxophonist, composer and band leader Tia Fuller was at Vail as a teenager, and so was pianist Justin Kauflin.

Only 12 slots exist at the annual Vail Jazz Workshop. For this year's class, a committee had to pare down a record number of applicants - 130 of them - so that Workshop director / bassist John Clayton and his faculty could select the finalists. Clayton visited "First Take with Lando and Chavis" to talk about his own jazz education and the climate at this year's 10-day jazz intensive.

"These are 12 of the top high school players in the nation," said Clayton. "It blows our mind how much vocabulary and insight they have at such a young age."

Jackie Ryan "Listen Here" Open Arts ProductionsOver the past 10 years, Jackie Ryan has become one of jazz’s top vocalists, able to sing in a wide array of styles utilizing her 3 ½ octave range to amaze audiences around the world-especially in London and the West Coast of the US. Ms. Ryan’s discography also displays her talents of giving new life to standards while offering contemporary songs interpreted with originality.